Liquidation of Mayo Renewable Power major set-back for the region – Calleary

Fianna Fáil TD for Mayo Dara Calleary has expressed his disappointment following the announcement that Mayo Renewable Power has been put into liquidation. More than 150 construction workers were employed at the height of construction which was suspended in July 2016.

“This project promised a boost in investment, employment and confidence in the Mayo region, when it was first announced and its demise has been met with shock and frustration. This is a major set-back for North Mayo, which has been badly neglected by Fine Gael”, explained Deputy Calleary.

“This Government has failed to grasp the seriousness of the employment situation in Mayo. The current Jobs Minister has shown no interest in the county, with only 4 IDA site visits so far this year. The new administration is following in the footsteps of Fine Gael and Labour’s policy of prioritising the Greater Dublin Area in favour of the regions. The lack of interest and investment in Mayo in these latest IDA figures speaks volumes about the direction of this Government.

“This announcement follows the closure announcement of Northgate, the redundancies in Charles River Glenamoy and at the Corrib Gas Terminal – all in 2016. This is simply not good enough. We need a co-ordinated strategy to bring investment and employment opportunities to Mayo. The Government’s jobs policy, which has effectively abandoned the regions and perpetrated a two-tier economy, must be challenged.

“The appointment of a liquidator to Mayo Renewable Power by the High Court this week is another blow to this region. This was an extremely important local project, which saw many workers return home after securing a job with the company. I am urging the Minister Mary Mitchell O’Connor, along with the Taoiseach to ensure that these workers are given every opportunity to find alternative employment. This is something this Government has shied away from in the past but the situation is so serious that it demands immediate action”.